Two prisoners were also maimed in the incident, which is now under control, said the ministry.
Abdullah Hasrat, a front man for the Paktia governor, confirmed reports of fighting at the Gardez prison in Paktia, and said the shooting started after the Taliban
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prisoners at the facility took one police officer hostage and then started firing the weapon they had seized from the police officer.
Hasrat said that security forces arrived on the scene and the situation is under control.
Taj Mohammad Mangal, a member of Paktia provincial council, said that some high profile members of the Taliban apparently escaped as a result of the incident, but this has not been confirmed.